In the subways, neither the bottom lines nor the headlines have changed much in 50 years.

The budget the MTA released Wednesday says city subways and buses will rake in over $2.6 billion at the fare box this year.

Adjusted for inflation, that’s almost exactly what the TA’s revenues were in 1956.

And consider these headlines from 50 years ago.

* Thanks to a huge “unexpected” surplus, the TA postpones fare hike.

* Legal battle and union infighting follow transit strike.

* TWU opposes closure of 50 token booths, said to save $1 million per year.

Time, it seems, stands clear of the closing doors.

Take the Second Avenue subway that’s now being proposed. Back in 1956, the project seemed assured, until then-Mayor Wagner spent much of a $500 million bond issue intended for the new subway line on the upkeep of the rest of the system.

As a result, the system looks “pretty much like it did back then,” said Clifton Hood, a subway historian.

“It’s especially striking when compared to London’s Underground, built at roughly the same time, which has expanded much more in the last 30 or 40 years.”